Gareth Southgate unconcerned by Pep Guardiola opinion that could hamper England
Gareth Southgate can be certain of one thing as he looks ahead to next summer’s European Championships… Kalvin Phillips will be fresh.
Fresh, fit and raring to go, even if he will have to reacquaint himself with the process of starting an elite football match. If Manchester City get the title wrapped up early enough, Phillips might get a Premier League run-out or two but, if he stays at the Etihad after January, there will be precious little first-team football for one of Southgate’s go-to operators ahead of England’s challenge in Germany.
Pep Guardiola has nothing but complimentary things to say about Phillips but the City manager’s team selections speak loudest. When there is a vacancy in the defensive midfield area, Guardiola fills it with defenders (the now-injured John Stones being one) or even attacking players (Bernardo Silva, rather bizarrely, stepped into the role at the Emirates earlier this season.)
In the wake of the injury to Stones, Pep suggested - rather enthusiastically - that Nathan Ake or Manuel Akanji can play there. Anyone but Kalvin, it seems. At times, you wonder if Guardiola might give Ederson a run-out ahead of the back three.
Yet it does not seem to concern Southgate, who says he is not overly surprised Phillips can’t get a game yet because there are so many world-class players ahead of him.
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Players, we assume, such as Rico Lewis, the England under-21 midfielder yet to be called into the senior squad. Nor does it seem to concern Southgate that Jordan Henderson is playing in front of one man and his dog every week in a very rich, but very tinpot, league.
Mid-table in the Saudi Pro League, Henderson’s Al-Ettifaq are hardly pulling up trees. At least Harry Maguire has become a regular for Manchester United once again. During the previous international break, Maguire spoke passionately about trying to re-establish himself in Erik ten Hag’s plans, describing his win percentage under the Dutchman as “ridiculously high.”
Between then and before yesterday’s game against Luton Town, Maguire started six club games in succession and his win percentage during that stint was ridiculously ordinary.
Gareth Southgate speaks with Kalvin Phillips (Getty Images)It was fifty per cent, with three defeats seeing Maguire’s United defence concede three twice and four once. It is fair to say his form has been mixed and if and when Ten Hag has all his defenders fit, the prospects for Maguire remain dubious.
Southgate, though, will keep the faith and his argument that the likes of Phillips, Henderson and Maguire have never let him down carries considerable weight. They have not let him down but Euro 2024 is all about taking the final step, going the magical extra yard.
That means progression, that means development, that surely means looking at ways to make the marginal gains that could end the six-decade wait for a trophy. And while England have qualified for the Euro finals at an impressive canter, there is - if Southgate’s latest squad is anything to go by - no significant sign of that.
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Ahead of FC Copenhagen’s generously awarded penalty, Alejandro Garnacho approached the spot, presumably with the intent of scuffing it as he did in the game against the Danes at Old Trafford.
“To me, he is a clown,” said Copenhagen defender Denis Vavro. And, in this case, he is not far wrong. What was worse, however, was young Garnacho cupping his ears to the home crowd after Bruno Fernandes had put Manchester United 3-2 up midway through the second half.
Never mind the sarcasm, Alejandro, concentrate on the 10-man job you have got for the final 20-odd minutes. There was certainly no ear-cupping when Garnacho did not bother tracking back into his own box where Roony Bardghji was left unmarked to fire in the winner. Garnacho is some player and is only 19 - but he needs to grow up fast.
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Here is Jose Mourinho after Roma’s 2-0 defeat at Slavia Prague. “In terms of individuals, very few of the players had the right attitude, the professional attitude I demand.”
Coincidentally, it is already the sacking season in the Saudi Pro League. Watch this space. PS: say what you like about Mourinho but the facts are that, during his stints with Chelsea, he won three Premier League titles and was a runner-up when in charge of Manchester United.
But Ange Postecoglu - with only 12 Premier League games under his belt - has now won THREE Manager of the Month awards, and that is only ONE shy of the number won by Mourinho in his entire career in England. Which is slightly bizarre.
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What is the point of the Premier League’s Independent Key Incidents Panel? Of the five-person panel, three thought that Bruno Guimaraes should have been sent off for an incident during Newcastle’s home game against Arsenal and two did not.
In other words, they thought exactly the same as any other group of five football fans would have. Seriously, what is the point? Other than to keep the refereeing debate bubbling along. As far as the Premier League is concerned, it seems that all publicity is good publicity.
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Roony Bardghji, scorer of the FC Copenhagen winner against Manchester United, turns 18 on Wednesday. Remember the name. He will be in the Premier League before he is 19.
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Steve Claridge has been honoured by Cambridge United’s Hall of Fame, meaning a remarkable SIX of the clubs he played for have now inducted him into their Halls of Fame. Only 16 others left...
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When asked about the open secret that she is off to manage the US Women’s National Team, Chelsea’s Emma Hayes said: “I won’t comment on that. I am contracted to Chelsea until the end of the season and that’s where my focus lies.”
She then said she was looking forward to the big soccer match against Everton on Sunday and hoped everyone has a happy Thanksgiving on Thursday week.*
*No she didn’t but the imminent appointment is a fantastic piece of work from US Soccer.
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: @ErlingHaaland “No innocent children deserve to die #peace” With a picture of himself leading two young girls onto the Etihad pitch, Haaland reminds us of far more important things than football.
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